Movie Review: ‘Footnote’ is Funny Yet Tragic, or is it Tragic Yet Funny?

Posted By: Melissa Hansonon: March 08, 2012In: Movie ReviewsNo Comments

Nominated this year for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (Israel), Footnote, was my pick to win. The emotionally delicate story grabs you from the very first scene and unfolds with comedic upsets along the way. Rivalry between father and son is not new, but writer/director Joseph Cedar weaves a simple concept into a complicated tale.

Son Uriel (Lior Ashkenazi) and father Eliezer (Shlomo Bar Aba) are both professors of Talmudic Studies who yearn for recognition in their fields. Having been passed over for the prestigious Isreal Prize for years, Eliezer receives word that he has finally won. Eliezer has openly scoffed at the prize and the committee that decides it, so he revels in his glory. But in a tragically funny twist, it is up to Uriel to decide his father’s fate. The situation is further complicated as Uriel has never praised his son and is emotionally cut off from all those around him having devoted his entire life to his work.

Shlomo Bar Aba (Eliezer) masters the art of conveying emotion without the use of words especially in the opening scene. This is a man who’s life has been dedicated to his work and is now at a function honoring his son in the same field. By his own choosing, he’s isolated himself from his family and is outwardly unhappy and subtly rude, yet somehow likeable.

What I loved most about the film was how several dramatic scenes are lightened by the use of situational comedy that isn’t knee-slapping, but simply makes you smile and giggle. These are some very serious and emotional moments, but using subtle comedy, the audience is given the opportunity to identify with the characters.

One aspect that I wanted more of was the dynamic between Eliezer and his wife, Yehudit (Alisa Rosen) because their relationship is fractured and it’s not exactly clear how. Uriel confides in his mother about his dilemma, yet there is also something he does not tell her about that also troubles him. I was very intrigued, but this subplot was not developed.

The film has made it’s round at several film festivals winning Best Screenplay at Cannes and Best Picture at the Ophir Awards. It was an official selection of the the Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, New York Film Festival and AFI Fest.

Rating: If you’re going to watch one of the Best Foreign Language nominees, choose this one (8/10)

Limited release in New York and Los Angeles on March 9, 2012.